The Power of Personal Narrative

November 4, 201710:00 am - 12:00 pm

CEUs: 2

Instructor: Ellen Blum Barish

In his memoir, “Memories, Dreams and Reflections,” Jung writes that in midlife, the public persona cracks and cannot be sustained. There is the impulse to cover those cracks and prop up the false persona. To regain health, one needs to dismantle that persona and bury the corpse of our false selves and liberate our shadow selves. We tend to do this in pieces, much like those found in personal narrative. Using published selections from personal essays and memoirs, we will explore elements of personal narrative (detail, scene, language, pacing, structure, theme, voice and storyline) as they relate to the healthy self. In addition, there will be time for reflective writing and discussion of our work.

About the Instructor
Ellen Blum Barish is the author of Views from the Home Office Window: On Motherhood, Family and Life and her essays have appeared in a variety of literary publications. She is editor of Thread: A Literary Publication, which earned a notable in Best American Essays in 2016. She teaches writing at Northwestern University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s in journalism and has previously taught at North Park University, StoryStudio Chicago, Ragdale, Lighthouse Writers Workshop and privately through workshops and coaching. Ellen is currently finishing a memoir. For more about her background, workshop schedules and coaching, go to www.ellenblumbarish.com.